Communication Feature

Ramky on the Rise

Having started off as a Consultant in Water, Ramky Infrastructure Ltd (RIL) has today emerged as one of the top infrastructure leaders in the country. RIL MD YR Nagaraja in conversation with CW…

What is the USP of Ramky Infrastructure vis-à-vis its competitors?Today, we operate in two principal segments, i.e. the construction and developer businesses. The former covers Water and Waste Water, Transportation, Building, Power, Industrial and Irrigation, and the latter encompasses Industrial Parks, Roads, Transport Terminals, Energy and Integrated Townships. In the construction segment, we are involved in projects including water treatment plants, water transmission and distribution systems, lift irrigation projects, dams and barrages, waste management, expressways, highways, rural roads, residential and commercial buildings, electricity transmission networks, substations and so on. Our USP then is in-house design capability for all WWW projects and execution efficiency, often ahead of time.

What have been the milestones and challenges during the journey so far?Within a short span, RIL has expanded its operations to include newer segments and states. Construction of India's first interstate bus terminal under the PPP model in Dehra Dun was a major breakthrough for the company. Other milestones include construction of the sector-specific industrial park Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City; Outer Ring Road in Hyderabad six months ahead of schedule; etc. There have been challenges too, in the form of cut-throat competition, inadequate supply of skilled manpower, and unforeseen situations arising out of socio-political developments.

Please tell us about your current projects.As on March 31, 2011, our order book was valued at over Rs 110,000 million. Our key current projects include the four-laning of the Narketpalli - Addanki - Medarametla Road in Andhra Pradesh; a drinking water plant at Kanpur extension under the JNNURM programme of the government of Uttar Pradesh; Manyawar Sri Kanshiram Ji University of Agriculture & Technology at Banda in Uttar Pradesh; to name some.

RIL has a 100 per cent subsidiary in Sharjah Airport International Free Zone, UAE. Tell us about your projects in the Middle East and internationally, if any. Ramky Engineering and Consulting Services (RECS), Sharjah, is a fully-owned subsidiary of RIL, and handles all international operations. RECS has started work on the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ) in the capital city of Libreville, Gabon. This is a JV between the Government of Gabon and Singapore-owned OLAM, one of the world's leading commodities trading companies. Work on the Rs 3,845 million GSEZ project was awarded to RECS, which will develop the internal infrastructure, entrance plaza, landscaping, internal roads, and other infrastructure including a guest house, club, hospital and a R&D block. The GSEZ is part of the Government of Gabon's drive to diversify its economy in an attempt to reduce reliance on the already dwindling oil reserves. The SEZ is also expected to boost the latent timber industry in Gabon, and create opportunities for the local population.

What made RIL qualify for the many awards the company has won?RIL has won a host of awards including the 2005 Best Contractor Award from the Government of Rajasthan, the Infrastructure Excellence Award from CNBC TV18, etc. These can be attributed mainly to our consistency in being environment friendly, the quality of service we provide, our tradition of time-bound delivery and most importantly, our value system which we uphold in all our dealings with customers and stakeholders.

What are the company's future plans?RIL is in the process of consolidating all its projects under various verticals. While water and waste water continue to lead the pack, we are now focused on taking up more projects in roads and energy. At the same time, we are moving into new areas like mining and oil & gas.